Budget caravan hire New Zealand: complete cost guide

Getting out onto the road is simple in New Zealand – the country is brilliantly set up for caravanning and road trips. But whether your New Zealand caravan holiday is for three days or three months, on the North Island or South Island, casually planned or packed with pre-booked activities, one thing you need to sort before you go is your budget.

Things to consider include obvious costs like caravan hire and campground fees, as well as less apparent ones you might not think of, like gas for the barbecue or a visit to Hobbiton. Check out this ultimate guide on how to budget a caravan hire trip in New Zealand.

Van hire and van kit

Caravan rental is one of the most cost-effective ways to see the spectacular landscapes of New Zealand while still enjoying home comforts.New Zealand caravan hire on Camplify at the time of writing varies from $50 to $250 per day for a fully self-contained van, averaging out at around $100 to $120. Travelling in low or shoulder season is a great option if you’re on a tighter budget.

It’s highly recommended to hire a caravan or other self-contained vehicle for your New Zealand road trip, as this means you can stay at freedom camping grounds for low or zero costs (more on that below). We also recommend thoroughly checking what facilities and amenities are included in the van you want to rent: for example, a table, chairs and barbecue included should save you heaps on eating out.

Fuel

Petrol, diesel, gas… whatever you call it, fuel for your towing vehicle is a big cost to factor into your trip. Most cars in New Zealand run on 91-octane or 95-octane petrol, costing around $2.10 to $2.30 per litre; diesel is significantly cheaper at about $1.25 per litre.

As with everywhere around the world, fuel costs in New Zealand fluctuate: useNew Zealand AA’s Petrolwatch site to keep up to date on prices. Another handy tip is to get a freeAA Smart Fuel card, which gives a discount of about 6 cents per litre of petrol (the amount changes daily).

Remember to check fuel levels and stock up accordingly if driving somewhere remote, or if you’re ina region like the Bay of Plenty where petrol is cheaper. You don’t want to be stuck paying way over the odds at the only petrol station available for 100km.

Campgrounds and caravan parks

Prices at New Zealand campsites and caravan parks range from free to about $50 per night. Most # vanlife travellers in New Zealand opt for a mix of freedom camping and private holiday parks, to be on the road on a budget then connect to services every few days.

Our Finding Caravan Parks in New Zealand blog has details on private caravan parks/holiday parks and where to find them. To really save money, opt for a Department of Conservation (DoC) campsite on government-managed land and in national parks: plenty of these are free and others cost between $6 and $20 per adult. Our Freedom Camping in New Zealand blog has more information.

Food

Everyone has their own individual preferences about what food they like to buy but generally speaking about $20 a day of supermarket shopping should be enough for three meals each for two people. Many large supermarkets offer fuel vouchers for grocery costs over a certain amount, so bear this in mind when choosing where to shop.

Depending on your hire caravan’s supplies and how long you’re on the road, you may also need to add in barbecue gas supplies for alfresco meals. Restaurant costs in New Zealand are as varied as anywhere, but as a rough rule of thumb allow $8 to $14 per person for breakfast and $20 to $30 per person for dinner if you decide to eat out.

Phone and internet

If you’re not a native Kiwi, buy a New Zealand sim card when you arrive in the country so you can use map and campground-finder apps. The four major New Zealand cell/mobile phone networks are 2Degrees, Vodafone, Spark and Skinny; a sim card costs about $5 and a month’s network plan around $29.

The crew at Kiwi Experience have a goodguide on the best sim card for New Zealand travelling.

Activity costs

New Zealand is *the* country for adventure sports, particularly around Queenstown on the South Island, but as you’d expect, these can be pricey. Expect to pay $160 to $250 for an activity likebungy jumping and anything from $80 upwards forwhitewater rafting.

Less of an adrenaline rush but more affordable is hiking, and the good news is there are plenty of stunning trails to try. Use theDoC Great Walks info to plan your trek and find camping options along the way.

Other essential expenses

Bug spray/DEET – don’t let the sandflies get you…

First aid kit

Shopping/souvenirs

Admission tickets to museums and attractions

Day tours